Earlier this month, as an optional “field trip,” I, along with several members of my film cohort, visited the Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver, to see an exhibition by the Canadian photographer Greg Girard. It was my first time visiting the gallery, and my first time across the harbour in years, with my last trip on the SeaBus likely being when I was still in middle school. Of course, as with most times I go somewhere “fresh,” I brought my camera along should inspiration strike, and strike it did.
The exhibition was beautiful, and though it was my first time seeing his work, Girard’s photos–predominatly urban and street photography, with a blend of both local places, as well as cities across Asia–resonated deeply with me. In fact, as I write this, I’m looking over at two postcards featuring my favourite photos from the gallery that I picked up from the gift shop. I worked my way around the gallery, admiring the artwork, before following a few of my friends outside onto the building’s balcony, where I was greeted by a lovely view of the harbour, with the Vancouver skyline in the distance.
It was a perfect sunny day, so as the sun glimmered on the surface of the water and the boats bobbed up and down at the dock, out came my camera. There was lots to see from the balcony between the walkway below, the shops and spinning sign of Lonsdale Quay Market to my right, and The Shipyards to my left, so I took several shots of the area, and a few of myself in the reflection of the gallery’s windows (gotta get that profile photo).
We spent a while longer in the gallery before our group decided to head out and explore the market, giving me a chance to find some more angles and new subjects as we wandered around. One of the main reasons that I love the ocean, and by extension most cities and spaces around it, is that everything feels so vibrant and lively, from the constant breeze blowing over the shore, to the boats cruising through the harbour, and the foot traffic along the boardwalk. After a summer at home in Kelowna, a clear, sunny day in Vancouver was–quite literally, considering the wildfires in the Okanagan–a breath of fresh air.
After picking up some food from the local shops, our group settled at a bench on the boardwalk and spent the next while chatting, with me occasionally stepping away to snap a few shots of seagulls or anything else that caught my eye. My friends told me that I looked like a “vacation dad” which, with my baseball cap, cross-body bag, and Pink Floyd shirt, I couldn’t dispute.
At the end of the day, I got to visit an art gallery and discover an inspirational photographer, catch up with my friends, take some nice photos, and enjoy some of the last days of summer.
Not a bad way to kick off second year.
-Tyler